#1175 Zechariah 1 Part 2 El Caballo Rojo

 

7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying, 8 “I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. 9 Then I said, ‘What are these, my lord?’ The angel who talked with me said to me, ‘I will show you what they are.’ 10 So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, ‘These are they whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.’ 11 And they answered the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, ‘We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.’ 12 Then the angel of the Lord said, ‘O Lord of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these seventy years?’ 13 And the Lord answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. 14 So the angel who talked with me said to me, ‘Cry out, Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. 15 And I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little, they furthered the disaster. 16 Therefore, thus says the Lord, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the Lord of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. 17 Cry out again, Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.’” Zechariah 1: 7-17 ESV

Zechariah 1: 7-17 A Man Riding on A Red Horse

The prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo - Zechariah receives another message from the Lord. 

Now, let’s – having gotten all of that out of the way – hit the message in verse 2. Zechariah means “Jehovah remembers.” Here’s a little note for you; Berechiah means “Jehovah blesses,” and Iddo means “in His time.” And the message of the book is “Jehovah remembers and blesses in His time.” And it’s coming to those who repent. - J Mac

I saw in the night - This is different than a dream, it is a vision, and let's get some of the setting down, the prophet is Zechariah, he is speaking to the people that came back from Babylon after the captivity, after the 70 years that was determined for them. Sin always requires punishment, an answer, and so the people of Israel would not repent some years before, and the northern kingdom first reached the brim of their cup of God's just wrath, so they were taken away by Assyria. Then Judah, who had seen his sister taken away, and had even seen God's intervention in chasing Assyria away from Jerusalem, yet reached this same measure and were taken into captivity in Babylon. They would not change their minds, were obstinate towards God, and took advantage of each other, leading each other into more sin, and sin has a price. God is also a God of compassion and here is coming a beautiful message of comfort to a people that are struggling and depressed in the land. They were able to return to Judah, but it is still during the time of the Gentiles, and their neighbors are hostile, but God is wanting them to rebuild His house.

…9For they are falsely prophesying to you in My name; I have not sent them, declares the LORD.” 10For this is what the LORD says: “When Babylon’s seventy years are complete, I will attend to you and confirm My promise to restore you to this place. 11For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.… Jeremiah 29: 9-11

1In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes, a Mede by descent, who was made ruler over the kingdom of the Chaldeans— 2in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the sacred books, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.… Daniel 9: 1-3

A man riding on a red horse - So first off, Who is this man on the red horse? He is the one standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and there are other horses behind His, subordinate. Now some will say this is Michael the archangel, but I disagree, and we will shortly see why, even within this text. Jesus does what He sees the Father doing and Michael does what the Angel of the Lord directs, he follows Christ's lead. In verse 9, Zechariah ask the angel that is walking with him what these horses are, and the Man on the red horse, standing among the myrtle trees, answered, "these are they whom the Lord (capital L) has sent to patrol the earth." They are a patrol, a reconnaissance team, just like when Satan was asked by God in Job, "where have you come from?" Satan and his demonic forces roam the earth, but be encouraged, O Judah, for the Angel of the Lord has His army, His scouts going throughout the earth as well. 

6One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.” 8Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.”… Job 1: 6-8

And they answered the angel of the Lord - Angel means messenger, but the title of this particular messenger, the angel of the Lord, comes up often throughout the Old Testament. One notable time is when He makes Himself known to Moses in preincarnate form, that of a burning bush, and just read it for yourself, He identifies Himself:

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

And Moses said, “Here I am.”

5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. Exodus 3: 1-6

Look at verse 11. Zechariah 1:11: “And they answered the Angel of the Lord that stood among the myrtle trees.” Who’s the Angel of the Lord? Christ. Now do you know who the rider on the red horse is? It’s the Lord Jesus Christ, the Angel of the Lord. He is the commander in chief of the God squad, about to embark upon the battle.

You say, “But what are the myrtles?” Well listen. Because of the lowliness, because of the commonness, because of the simplicity, because of the beauty, and because of the fragrance when bruised, the only possibility for the myrtle is that the myrtle represents Israel. The commonness. They’re everywhere in the land, the people of God. And what is the hollow? What is the deep place, the glen that speaks of the suffering and the lowliness and the degradation and the baseness of their present condition? All the little lovely myrtles. They’re looking up at their city and wondering if they’ll ever rebuild it, and all of a sudden standing in the midst is the angelic army, led by the commander in chief, ready for battle. It’s going to be bloody but it’s going to be victorious. Now that’s an exciting scene, isn’t it? And you can hear all of the Jews who are listening to Zechariah’s sermon going, “Oh, did you hear that? See, it’s coming.” J Mac

There are many examples in the Old Testament of an encounter with a heavenly man known as the Angel of the LORD who is revealed to be God Himself (Genesis 16:7-13, Genesis 22:11-18, Exodus 2:3-9, Judges 2:1-4, and many other places). Because of Zechariah 1:11, we know this man is the Angel of the LORD, and that He is God.

ii. We can assume that this was God, in the Person of Jesus Christ, appearing to Abraham before His incarnation and birth at Bethlehem, because of God the Father it is said, No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him (John 1:18), and no man has ever seen God in the Person of the Father (1 Timothy 6:16). Therefore, if God appears to someone in human appearance in the Old Testament, and no one has seen God the Father, it makes sense the appearing is of the eternal Son, the Second Person of the Trinity, before His incarnation in Bethlehem. - Enduring Word

Genesis chapter 16, verse 13. Well we got to back up. Verse 7. “And the Angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness.” Angel of the Lord. Verse 9: “And the Angel of the Lord said to her.” Verse 10: “And the Angel of the Lord said to her.” Verse 11: ”And the Angel of the Lord said to her.” Now we know here an Angel of the Lord is identified, but who is he? Finally, she says something, verse 13: “And she called the name of the Lord who spoke unto her though,” what? God. “Thou God.” Who was the Angel of the Lord? God. God manifest. And who is God manifest? God the Son, second person of the Trinity. - J Mac

Red, sorrel and white horses - So I went past these, but I think it is important to establish Who the angel of the Lord is, and I wanted to have a more complete thought and reference, but back to verse 8. The angel of the Lord is on a red horse, and Macarthur points out that this is the same word for red as was used to describe Esau, so ginger like. Now horses in the Bible were associated often with war, and God had warned Israel not to go back to Egypt and acquire many horses, and the Psalmist David said, "some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God." Ultimately, the battle belongs to the Lord, and you can have all the technology and weaponry that your little heart desires and can imagine, but if God is against you then it won't stand. You want God with you above all else. Zechariah is seeing the army of the invisible God, led by the preincarnate Christ. Red is also associated with blood and war. Now here is where it becomes very confusing, and even more so because of horse people, some of them say sorrel is the same as the red, a chestnut, some say its like a roan, some say it's a chestnut with a yellow mane, English riders say one thing and Western riders follow another set of rules. There is nothing more confusing than horse people, they could have just called the red one a Marlboro Red , and the Sorrel a Red Panda Pigeon Blood, but that would be too easy. Some commentators think the word they translated to the English word Sorrel is actually describing a combination of the two colors, red and white, or a speckled horse. White is often used to denote purity and victory. We can see a vision in Isaiah of God the Son covered in red from battle, and in Revelation we can see Him coming triumphantly for His bride on a white horse, and a little bonus footage for those who still think it could be Michael, look at verse 10 of Revelation 19, John makes the mistake of worshiping an angel, a spiritual being, a created one, and the angel stops him, and tells him to worship God. 

1Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.” 2Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress? 3“I have trodden the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained.… Isaiah 63: 1-3

…7Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. 8 She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints. 9Then the angel told me to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”…

10So I fell at his feet to worship him. But he told me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” 11Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. 12He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows.… Revelation 19: 7-12

And the Lord answered gracious and comforting words - He is giving Israel hope, his armies are waiting, asking the Father when the time will come, they are at the ready. God has a future in store for Israel and He doesn't want them to forget this. About 4 years after this prophecy the temple was finished being rebuilt. Haggai was sent to get them motivated, and Zechariah keeps them there.

I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem - The church is the bride of Christ, but God always addressed Israel as His wife, as seen in much of the covenant language and in books like Hosea.

They furthered the disaster - God allowed them to come against Israel in judgment, for Israel's sins had to be answered if God is truly Holy and just like He says, but the nations did not come seeking justice, just pillage, and they were anti-Semites, not against sin, but against the Jewish people. They came under the sovereign God, but thought their victories against Israel made their gods greater than the true God, or that they themselves were gods because of their technology, their might, their numbers and strength.